UK digital health funding should be ringfenced, says report

A leading IT industry organisation in the UK has called on the government to guarantee funding for digital transformation and cyber resilience in health and social care, saying it is vital not to miss the current "window of opportunity." The report from techUK welcomes the new Labour government’s recognition that "decisive change" – underpinned by digital technologies – is needed to fulfil its objective of a prevention-focused approach to health and increased productivity in the NHS to support its objective of boosting economic growth. "It is vital that we do not lose the current window of opportunity through which to act on these ambitions and make significant structural changes in health and social care," according to techUK, which recommends that the government commit to previously committed funding levels for digital transformation "as a minimum." It also calls for increased capital investment, the development of a common architectural approach to systems development, and improved commercial and procurement practices within the NHS – including increased transparency around commercial activity across the NHS at local, national and regional levels. Looking specifically at digital health technologies (DHTs), efforts should be made to "clarify and standardise" the evidence that developers will need to provide […]

You may also like...